Jewish, Christian and Islamic calendars, and Ghadir and Aushura (‘Aashoora)

Part 4

It is very important to mention that using man defined solar calendars and alike for applications such as agriculture are not our concern at all. For instance from ancient times civilizations such as Persians, Egyptians, Romans and … -who used to think that the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun rotated around the earth- had calendars based on observation of the stars. They used these calendars not only for agriculture and … but also to define some of their superstitious, mythical pagan beliefs. Here it is also quite noteworthy to mention that the Muslim scholar al-Biruni (11^th century C.E.) centuries before the Italian astronomer Galileo (1564-1642 C.E.) had discovered that the earth rotates around the sun.

Rather our concern is when “Allah Defined calendar by His Prophets” and thus sacred occasions, commands, blessings and … have been misplaced and distorted. As one example from the beginning the month of Ramadan was the chosen month by Allah in which according to Hadrat Mohammad (PBUH&HP) all Divine Books and their related Knowledge, i.e. Sohof of Ibrahim, Torah of Moosa, Enjil (Gospel) of ‘Eesa, Zaboor (Psalms) of Daawood and Qur’an of Mohammad (PBUT) were revealed to the Prophets an their Allah Chosen Successors (PBUT), and the nights in which they have been revealed, i.e. respectively the first, sixth, 13^th, 18^th and the 23^rd nights have been special and blessed (from al-Kaafi, vol. 6; …); and only the true Muslims, following the teachings of Hadrat Mohammad and his Pure AhlulBayt have remained faithful to and benefited from such information.

THEREFORE FOLLOWING QUR’AN WITH THE DIVINE TEACHINGS OF THE FOURTEEN INFALLIBLE ONES, THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD, HIS DAUGHTER FATEMAH AND TWELVE IMAMS, (PBUT) IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR HUMANKIND TO ACHIEVE THE ETERNAL SALVATION PROMISED BY ALL PROPHETS OF ALLAH.

In order to further comprehend the significance of the calendar issue, let us as a sample explore certain facts surrounding two occasions:

As we have mentioned in many writings in this site -such as the article: “Ghadir, from creation to Eternity, which we cordially invite our friends to read- throughout history, the heavenly tradition of all holy Prophets (PBUT) had been that they -by Allah's command- introduced their God-Chosen successors to people before their departure from this world.

The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP) has said:

I am the lord of Prophets, and my Successor (Wasi) is the lord of Successors, and my Successors are the lords of Successors. Adam asked Allah to give him a righteous Successor, Allah told him: I have honored Prophets with Prophethood, and selected My creations and I chose the best of them as Successors. Then Allah -Undefeatable and Grandeur- revealed to Adam to set Sheith as his Wasi who was Habbatollah son of Adam … Nooh’s Wasi was Saam … Ibrahim to his son Ismael, and Ismael to Is-haaq, and Is-haaq to Ya’qoob, and Ya’qoob to Yoosof … and Moosa son of ‘Emraan to Yoosha’ son of Noon, and Yoosha’ to Daawood, and Daawood to Soleymaan, and Soleymaan to Aasef Barkhiya … and ‘Eesa to Sham’oon Safa … and I (Mohammad -PBUH&HP- give my Wesaayat to you Ali, and you to your Wasi, and he to your Awsiya from your offspring one after the other, so that It (Wesaayat -Successorship-) will reach the best of the people of the earth after you. O’ Ali! The Ommat (Nation of Islam) will disbelieve in you and differ greatly in regard to you. Whoever remains steadfast with you, has remained with me, and whoever stays away from you, will be in Fire, and Fire is the Abode of disbelievers.

(Amaali of ‘Allaamah Sadooq, p. 402; Kamaal al Deen, vol. 1, p. 212; Behaar al Anwaar, vol. 23, p. 57; …)

Qur’an in Surah Taa-Haa (20) verses 25 and after confirms that Hadrat Moosa had asked Allah to appoint Hadrat Haaroon (PBUT) as his Wazir (Minister and Helper). Wile that which today is being called Torah and the current old testament of the bible are very much distorted, still rays of the Light of Allah shine in the midst of the darkness of distortions.

In the bible, the old testament, book of exodus chapter 3 it is stated that Allah told Moosa (PBUH) to go to Pharaoh and remind him of Allah and ask him to free the children of Israel of slavery, and in the fourth chapter we are told that Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) asked Allah for help and Allah gave the good news to His Prophet Moosa that his brother Haaroon (PBUT) would be joining and helping him, and that God would be with them:

Exodus 4:15 And thou (Moosa –Moses-) shalt speak unto him (Haaroon, -Aaron-), and put words in his mouth: and I (God) will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Then it is said that by command of God Hadrat Moosa taught all the Knowledge given to him by God -including the miracles stated in the first statements of Exodus 4 such as the “White hand” and …- to Hadrat Haaroon (PBUH):

Exodus 4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs (miracles) which he had commanded him.

Then Moosa and Haaroon (PBUT) stood before the elders and Haaroon (PBUH) revealed his Knowledge and the miracles; and in this manner in a somewhat private declaration Hadrat Haaroon’s (PBUH) exalted position and his status as the God Chosen Minister and Successor of Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) became apparent to the elders of the children of Israel:

Exodus 4:29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

4:30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs (miracles) in the sight of the people.

After the children of Israel were freed from slavery and left Egypt with Hadrats Moosa and Haaroon (PBUT) God called Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) to the Mountain for 30 days, then Allah added an extra 10 days, making it forty days and nights. It is noteworthy to mention that as stated in Exodus 24:14 Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) before his leaving for the Mountain top, again commanded the elders to refer to Hadrat Haaroon during his absence.

During those forty days and nights in which Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) was worshipping Allah, Allah gave him certain commands including the command of the public appointment of Hadrat Haaroon and his two sons in front of the whole congregation of the children of Israel:

Exodus 29:4 And Aaron and his sons, thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

29:5 And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:

29:6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.

29:7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

29:8 And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.

29:9 And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

As we see, Hadrat Haaroon and his sons (PBUT) were Chosen by God. In Exodus 34:32 it is stated that Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) delivered to the congregation all that Allah had commanded and consecrated Haaroon and his two sons and placed the Holy Crown on Haaroon’s head and …; and in this manner Hadrat Moosa sought allegiance from the people for Hadrat Haaroon and his sons (PBUT).

When Imam Hasan (PBUH) was born, Hadrat Ali told Hadrat Fatemah (PBUT) that he would not take precedence over the Prophet in naming the child, the Prophet (PBUH&HP) also said that he would not take precedence over Allah, thus Hadrat Jebra’el descended and by the command of Allah said that the Manzelat (Status) of Ali to Mohammad (PBUT) was same as to the Manzelat of Haaroon to Moosa (PBUT), thus Ali’s first born should be named after Haaroon’s first son. Therefore the name Hasan which is the Arabic translation of Shabar was set for the first grandson of Hadrat Mohammad (PBUT). (Amaali of Shaikh Sadooq, p. 135; Behaar al Anwaar, vol. 43, p. 238; …)

It is noteworthy to mention that the most trusted books by the Sunni such as Sahih Bukhari (Bokhaari), in vol. 5, p. 129 and Sahih Moslem, in vol. 7, p. 120 and … all report that the Prophet (PBUH&HP) had stated the Manzelat (Status) Hadith in regard to Hadrat Ali (PBUH).

‘Allaamah Amini in his renowned book al-Ghadir, first vol., page 291  has reported that on the Day of Ghadir the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP) placed his turban which was named Sahaab on Hadrat Ali’s (PBUH) head leaving the end of it on his shoulder and said that turban was the Crown of Arabs.

Hadrat Ali (PBUH) himself in this regard has said:

On the Day of Ghadir the Prophet placed a turban on my head hanging one side on my shoulder, and said: Allah on the Day of Badr and Honain helped me with angels wearing such turbans.

(Asraar Ghadir of M. B. Ansaari, p. 58; …)

Here as a sample let us narrate a traditionally transmitted invocation by the Holy Prophet from Sunni documents:

"O Allah, my brother Musa implored You saying: 'O my Lord, delight my heart and make my task easy and undo the knot in my tongue so that they may understand my talk and appoint from among my kinsmen Harun, my brother, as my wazir and strengthen my back with him and make him participate in my mission.' You inspired him: 'We shall soon strengthen your arm with your brother and make you both dominant.' O Allah, I am Your servant and Your messenger Muhammad. I implore You to delight my heart and make my task easy and appoint from among my kinsmen Ali, my brother, as my wazir."

It is reported that in response to this prayer verse 55 of al Ma-idah [al-Maa’edah (5), the Verse of Wilayat] was revealed. The [Sunni] Abu Is-haq al Thalabi has recorded the above prayer in his Tafsir Kabir while commenting on verse 55 occurring in al Ma-idah. The [Sunni] Al Balakhi in his Yanabi has copied the same version from the Sunni Ahmad bin Hanbal's Musnad. Please also refer to verses 1 to 6 of al Inshirah [al-Ensheraah (94)] which make it known that the Holy Prophet's prayer was accepted by Allah, and in verse 7 He commands the Holy Prophet to establish his Successorship.

It is so sad that with such overwhelming evidence supporting the Prophetic Sunnah of Successorship, including in Sunni documents, still the Allah Commanded Successorship issue is being denied by the Muslims calling themselves the followers of the Sunnah!!!

For more information in regard to the Allah Ordained Successorship of Prophets (PBUT) we cordially invite our friends to read the articles: “From Hajj to Ghadir” and “Ghadir, from creation to eternity” in this site: kindfather.com

Hadiths from the Infallible ones (PBUT) -which state that the date of formal Appointment and allegiance-seeking for the Successors of Prophets of Allah, such as Sheith Wasi of Adam, Haaroon Wasi of Moosa, Yoosha’ Wasi of Moosa after the martyrdom of Haaroon, Sham’oon Wasi of ‘Eesa and Hadrat Ali and his Chosen descendants Awsiya of Hadrat Mohammad (PBUT), were all on the 18^th of the Lunar month of Dhyl-Hajjah, the same day of Ghadir- are the indication of a heart-warming Divine Sunnah. (from ‘Awaalem al ‘Oloom, vol. 3/15, pp. 209,213; al-Eqbaal of Sayyed ebn Taawoos; Behaar al Anwaar; …) 

Here as a sample we present one of these beautiful Hadiths:

Mofazzal has narrated that Imam Saadeq (PBUH) commanded him thrice in one single statement to fast on the Day of Ghadir and then said the following in regard to the virtue of the Day of Ghadir:

Indeed that is the Day in which Allah returned toward Adam, so he fasted that Day to give thanks to Allah -the Sublime-; and indeed that is the Day in which Allah -the Sublime- saved Ibrahim from the fire, so he fasted to thank Allah -the Sublime-for it; and indeed that is the Day in which Moosa installed Haaroon as an ‘Alam (Emblem of Leadership and Guidance …), so he fasted that Day to give thanks to Allah -the Sublime-; and indeed that is the Day ‘Eesa revealed his Wasi Sham’oon Safa, so he fasted that Day to give thanks to Allah -Mighty and Magnificent-; and indeed that is the Day the Rasool of Allah installed Ali an ‘Alam for the people and in it he made clear his Wasi and his superiority, so he fasted that Day to give thanks to Allah -Mighty and Magnificent-; and indeed that is the Day for fasting and praying and feeding and remaining attached to brothers (in faith) and in it is Allah’s Pleasedness and Shaytaan’s nose rubbing on the ground.

(Eqbaal al a’maal, p. 466; Wasaa’el al Shi’ah, Ketaab of Sawm, Baab 14, Hadith 12, p. 466; …)

I.e. the 18^th of Dhyl-Hajjah has been a Chosen Day by Allah from the beginning of the creation of heavens and earth, and only the Shi’ah have remained faithful to it; and perhaps now the statement: Ghadir, from creation to eternity will touch our hearts much closer …

O’ the Almighty and Compassionate Allah! We implore you in the beautiful Names of Your Prophets and Successors, to hasten the glorious Appearance of the last Infallible Successor of Your last Prophet the Beloved Hadrat Mohammad, Hadrat Mahdi, (PBUT) so that Your Everlasting Truth will become manifest and …

To be continued …